d
for the enforcement of his rights by law, when there were so many more
urgent and important things in life to do.

He waited four days for an answer to his letter and receiving none,
wrote again. In the meantime the day for final action on his appeal had
passed and his suit was legally ended. On the last day his lawyer
pleaded with him for an hour to file the appeal suit and then
compromise at his leisure. The doctor merely smiled quietly and
repeated his decision:

"I'm done fighting. I've something else to do."

When Bivens failed to reply to his second letter he made up his mind to
see him personally. He was sure the letter had been turned over to a
lawyer and the financier had never seen it. He called at Bivens's
office three times and always met the same answer:

"Mr. Bivens is engaged for every hour to-day. You must call again."

On the fourth day, when he had stayed until time for closing the
office, a secretary informed him that Mr. Bivens was too busy with
matters of great importance to take up any new business of any kind for
a month, and that he had given the most positive orders to that effect
to all his men. If he would return the first of next month he would see
what could be done.

The doctor left in disgust. It was evident that the millionaire's
business had reached such vast proportions that its details were as
intricate and absorbing as the government of an empire and that he had
found it necessary to protect his person with a network of red tape.

He determined to break through this ceremonial nonsense, see Bivens
face to face, and settle the affair at once.

When he should see him personally it would be but a question of five
minutes' friendly talk and the matter would be ended. Now that he
recalled little traits of Bivens's character, he didn't seem such a
scoundrel after all--just the average money-mad man who could see but
one side of life. He would remind him in a friendly way of their early
association, and the help he had given him at an hour of his life when
he needed it most. He wouldn't cringe or plead. He would state the
whole situation frankly and truthfully and with dignity propose a
settlement.

It was just at this moment that the doctor learned of the preparations
for the dinner and ball at the Bivens palace on Riverside Drive. The
solution of the whole problem flashed through his mind in an instant.
They would have professional singers without a doubt, the great
operatic